Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program is a prominent feature in the state’s education system. It offers families more control over their children’s education. Further, the program allows parents to use public funds for various educational options.
Understanding Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship (ESA) Program
Launched in 2011, Arizona’s ESA program is one of the most established and comprehensive in the country. Here are some important information:
ELIGIBILITY: Every Arizona K-12 student is eligible to enter the ESA program, regardless of family income, academic performance, or previous school enrollment (public, private, or homeschool).
FUNDING: The amount allocated for a student varies according to the student’s grade level and disability status (if applicable). The program allocates a portion of state education funding per student to a specific ESA account.
APPROVED EXPENSES: Here are some approved educational expenses:
- Private school tuition
- Homeschooling curriculum and materials
- Online learning programs
- Educational therapies for students with special needs
- Private Tutoring services
- Uniforms
- Fees for Nationally Standardized Norm-Referenced Achievement Tests and Grade Level Testing
IMPORTANT NOTE: ESA funds can’t be utilized for extracurricular activities, religious instruction not aligned with the secular curriculum, or for-profit educational materials promoting a particular religious belief.
Why Choose Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account Program?
Here are some reasons to choose ESA in the state of Arizona:
- Educational Choice: Arizona families gain significant control over their child’s learning environment. It fosters a personalized education that caters to individual needs and strengths.
- Meeting Diverse Needs: The program allows parents to explore alternative schooling options that might be a better fit for their child.
- Empowering Special Needs Students: ESA funds can provide crucial support for accessing specialized therapies to cater to their child’s unique needs.
Eligibility Requirements for the Arizona ESA Program
Here are the documents you need to prepare to apply for Arizona Empowerment Scholarship (ESA):
- Student’s Birth Certificate
- The applicant must be listed on the student’s birth certificate
- If the applicant’s legal name at the time of application is different from what is on the birth certificate, documentation of legal name change must be included with the birth certificate.
- Proof of Residency Document in the Applicant's Name (parent/guardian applying)
- You need to provide one of the following documents that lists your physical address, PO boxes are not acceptable. Here are some examples:
- Valid Arizona driver’s license or Arizona identification card
- Valid Arizona motor vehicle registration
- Valid Arizona Address Confidentiality Program authorization card
- Property Deed / Warranty Deed
- Mortgage documents
- HOA documents
- Property tax bill
- Rental agreement or lease (including Section 8 agreement or off-base military housing)
- Utility bill (water, electric, gas, cable, phone)
- Bank or credit card statement
- W-2 wage statement
- Payroll stub
- Certificate of tribal enrollment (506 Form) or other identification issued by a recognized Indian tribe located in Arizona
- Other documentation from a state, tribal, or federal agency (Social Security Administration, Veterans’ Administration, Arizona Department of Economic Security, etc.)
- For Reservation addresses: Physical address verification letter from a fire department, police department, tribal agency, or Chapter House
- Temporary on-base billeting facility (for military families)
- A notarized Affidavit of Shared Residence if you don’t have proof of residence in your name
Additional Requirements when applying for Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)
Here are some additional requirements if your child falls into these specific categories:
Preschool program for children with disabilities
- The student has a current MET/Evaluation report, Individualized Education Program (IEP), or 504 Plan from an Arizona public school.
- Must be from an Arizona public school.
- The primary category of eligibility must be provided.
- The IEP/MET/Evaluation Report must be current at the time of application, it can’t have expired before the application.
- Individual Service Plans (ISPs) from private schools will not be accepted.
- Evaluations from private schools will not be accepted
- Educational evaluations can be accepted from a qualified examiner (licensed physician MD/DO, psychologist, or psychiatrist)
- The applicant must be a legal parent or guardian.
- The student and applicant must be residents of Arizona.
- The student must be at least three years old but who has not reached the age required for kindergarten.
Student of a parent/legal guardian who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States and is on active duty
- The Student and Applicant must be residents of Arizona.
- The applicant must be a legal parent or guardian.
- The active-duty parent is an active-duty service member, in either the Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, or Coast Guard.
Needed documentations:
- Name of Service Member
- Student (and spouse, if applicable) is listed as Dependent
- Location of Duty Station
- Current Status (must be Active)
- Branch
Student of a parent/legal guardian who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States and was killed in the line of duty
- The active-duty parent was an active-duty service member, in either the Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, or Coast Guard.
- Report of Casualty Form (DD1300 or 1569) that states that the student listed as dependent or child of the service member killed in the line of duty.
For more information on eligibility and application requirements, please click here.
Some Reminders on Arizona ESA application
The scholarship amount is distributed throughout the year over four quarters. Here are the specific due dates for each quarter:
- Q1: July 1–September 30 (Application deadline: June 1)
- Q2: October 1–December 31 (Application deadline: September 1)
- Q3: January 1–March 31 (Application deadline: December 1)
- Q4: April 1–June 30 (Application deadline: March 1)
On average, families receive the following ESA funding:
- $4000 - $5000 for kindergarten children
- $6000 - $9000 for children in grades 1 -12
Important Arizona ESA Update
Last July 4, 2024, ESA Executive Director John Ward, sent out an email to all Arizona ESA families. In this email, he stated that ESA holders must submit a curriculum with all the supplemental materials requested or purchased.
With this, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is authorized to approve curriculum and supplemental materials required or recommended by a curriculum. Further, the Arizona ESA funds can't be used for supplemental materials that the curriculum does not require or recommend.
The ADE will work with the Arizona State Board of Education to revise the current ESA Parent Handbook to reflect these changes.
For more information, here is the letter from the Arizona Attorney General's Solicitor General's office. Here is the response of the John Ward, ESA Executive Director
Some Tips for Your Child's Curriculum
Since Director Ward's announcement, it is important to construct activities and supplemental that follow the curriculum. Here are some tips to create your child's own engaging curriculum focusing on geography:
- GEOGRAPHY: Move beyond geography, talk about how countries are shaped based on their history, culture, and people. Emphasize their uniqueness and encourage respect for all cultures.
- WORLD MAPS: Highlight the different sizes and locations of countries. Show how continents group countries with similar geographical features. Don't just memorize names, discuss climate zones and how it might influence their landscape.
- COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: Choose a country to explore deeply. Select a country with diverse geographical features and discuss how this shapes cultures.
Here's how you can integrate geography and cultural awareness:
- LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION: Learn basic phrases of your country spotlight. Discuss how language evolves based on location and interaction with other culture. You can also explore how language reflects culture.
- CULTURAL TRADITION: Discuss how traditions might be influenced by the country's geography.
- FOOD & CUISINE: Explore traditional dishes from different countries.
General tips in making your own curriculum:
- Encourage your child to compare and contrast geographical features and cultural practices between countries.
- use visuals like pictures, videos, and online resources to show the beauty and culture of different countries.
- Subscribe to The Landmark Kids for a hassle-free country of the month. With tons of activities, we'll make geography more fun and enjoyable for your kids.
Some Considerations and Concerns
Although it offers flexibility, the ESA program also raises concerns, like:
- Some critics argue that ESA might disproportionately benefit families with higher incomes, which may lead to a decline in public school diversity.
- A decrease in public school enrollment could result in funding shortfalls, impacting resources available to remaining students.
- Ensuring responsible use of ESA funds for legitimate educational purposes requires robust oversight.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Arizona ESA
Q: Does Arizona allow school choice?
A: Yes! Arizona offers different K-12 school options. Your options include private schools, charter schools, magnet schools, homeschooling, and public school choice through open enrollment.
Q: Can I live in one school district and send my child to another school district in Arizona?
A: Yes. Open enrollment in public schools is unrestricted. You can send your child to any public school in the state, regardless of district or school location. You can visit multiple schools to find the best fit for your family.
Q: How do I check my ESA application status?
A: Once you submit your application, it takes up to 30 days to process your application. You’ll receive an email with the final decisions. Unfortunately, you can’t receive updates during the processing period. Regularly check your email and make sure to check your spam/junk folder.
Q: When is the application deadline for Arizona ESA?
A: You can apply any time of the year.
Q: Do I need to re-apply every year?
A: There’s no need to re-apply since students and families who are already in the program are considered renewing students.
Q: How much funding will I receive through Arizona ESA?
A; In general, the funding is approximately 90% of the state’s per-student funding. The specific amount depends on the state’s budget and eligibility for ESA.
Q: What is ESA ClassWallet?
A: ClassWallet is a helpful tool for you to manage your child’s educational expenses simply and securely. You can easily pay tuition fees, purchase educational materials, and other education-related expenses. It’s a one-stop shop for all your child’s education-related payments.
Q: Can my child participate in the ESA program and remain in a public or charter school?
A: In almost all situations, students on ESA can’t be enrolled in public school (district, charter, or public online programs. The student must be withdrawn from the public school at the time when the ESA contract is signed.
Q: What happens to funds that aren’t spent?
A: Any remaining funds remain in the account and roll over to the next year.
Q: Can I be reimbursed if I spent my own money before starting Arizona ESA?
A: Yes, however, you can’t be reimbursed for expenses made before the date the contract was signed.
Unlock a World of Learning with The Landmark Kids
Your Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) empowers you to personalize your child’s educational journey by supplementing their learning journey with diverse resources. If you are looking for resources to teach geography, cultural awareness, problem solving, and critical thinking, The Landmark Kids unlocks the world of learning at your doorstep.
The Landmark Kids is a subscription box that unlocks exciting educational opportunities for your child. Each month, your child, aged 7-12, transforms into a globe-trotting secret agent and travels to a new country solving mysteries. The Landmark Kids sparks curiosity and provides hands-on activities that dive into the richness of different cultures, traditions, and iconic landmarks.
Enriching Your Child's Education with ESAs
By utilizing your ESA money for educational resources like The Landmark Kids, you can create a stimulating and engaging learning environment for your child. It fosters:
- Curiosity and Exploration: The mysteries and challenges ignite a passion for discovery, encouraging your child to delve deeper into the world around them.
- Critical Thinking Skills: As your child deciphers clues and solves puzzles, they develop valuable critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- Global Awareness: Each adventure broadens your child's understanding of diverse cultures, fostering respect and a sense of being a citizen of the world.
The Landmark Kids Advantage: Learning at Home, Exploring the World
The Landmark Kids offers a unique and enriching learning experience that complements your ESA-funded education plan. From the comfort of your own home, your child can embark on journeys across the globe, sparking a lifelong love of learning and fostering essential skills that will benefit them throughout their educational journey.
Additional Information
Here are some useful links to help you get started with Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account Program:
- Application Link
- ESA Applicant forms
- Arizona ESA Help Desk
- ESA Parent Handbook
- Arizona ESA HelpDesk phone number: (602) 364-1969
- Arizona Department of Education Website
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